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What makes a great speech?

What makes a great speech?

Did you know that making a speech in public is rated as one of most people's greatest fears? There is however an art to making a great speech. Listen as Don Watson speech-writer for the former Prime minister Paul Keating, Michael Gurr playwright and speech-writer, and Ted Widmer foreign policy speech writer for former US president Bill Clinton, discuss the secrets to writing a great speech on The Book Show.

If you like this clip, visit http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bookshow/panel-discussion-what-makes-a-great-speech/3392316 for further information.

Things to think about

1

Before listening

Have you ever had to speak in public? What do you think are the things that are most important when making a speech?

Think about a really good speech you may have heard. Perhaps a classic like Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream'. Or perhaps a speech someone made on school assembly or at a family event. What made this speech memorable for you?

2

As you listen

Listen carefully to each speech-writer. Jot down a point or two that they make about each of the following features of good speech writing:

1 Knowing who or what you are writing the speech for

2 Being passionate about your subject

3 Good research

4 Use of humour

5 Use of anecdote

6 Use of concrete examples

7 Use of active verbs

8 Use of abstraction and cliche

9 Ending

10 Storytelling and the use of drama and emotion.

List ways that the panel think that Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech works?

How and why do the panel say Abraham Lincoln's Gettysberg address works?

3

After listening

Listen to one of the following great speeches referred to in the broadcast: Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' (1963) or Abraham Lincoln 'Gettysburg Address' (1863).

What techniques discussed in the broadcast are used in this speech?

4

Next steps

Research the top ten speeches of all time. Get your friends or family to listen to a number of them. Vote and decide which you think are the top speeches. Compare and discuss your results with what the experts say.

Choose an idea or issue that you are passionate about. Use one of the 'top ten' speeches as a model for writing your speech. Or just use the techniques discussed.

Broadcast your speech in some way. Perhaps as a recording to friends or family. Perhaps through social media like Facebook. Check your audience response. How many 'likes' did you get and why do you think this was the case?

For teachers

Year 10 English Strand: LiteracySubstrand: Interacting with othersContent code: ACELY1750Description: Identify and explore the purposes and effects of different text structures and language features of spoken texts, and use this knowledge to create purposeful texts that inform, persuade and engage

Year 8 English Strand: LanguageSubstrand: Language for interactionContent code: ACELA1542Description: Understand how rhetorical devices are used to persuade and how different layers of meaning are developed through the use of metaphor, irony and parody

Year 9 English Strand: LiteracySubstrand: Interacting with othersContent code: ACELY1740Description: Listen to spoken texts constructed for different purposes, for example to entertain and to persuade, and analyse how language features of these texts position listeners to respond in particular ways

What to view next:

What makes a great speech?

Overview

Did you know that making a speech in public is rated as one of most people's greatest fears? There is however an art to making a great speech. Listen as Don Watson speech-writer for the former Prime minister Paul Keating, Michael Gurr playwright and speech-writer, and Ted Widmer foreign policy speech writer for former US president Bill Clinton, discuss the secrets to writing a great speech on The Book Show.

If you like this clip, visit http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bookshow/panel-discussion-what-makes-a-great-speech/3392316 for further information.

Things to think about

1

Before listening

Have you ever had to speak in public? What do you think are the things that are most important when making a speech?

Think about a really good speech you may have heard. Perhaps a classic like Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream'. Or perhaps a speech someone made on school assembly or at a family event. What made this speech memorable for you?

2

As you listen

Listen carefully to each speech-writer. Jot down a point or two that they make about each of the following features of good speech writing:

1 Knowing who or what you are writing the speech for

2 Being passionate about your subject

3 Good research

4 Use of humour

5 Use of anecdote

6 Use of concrete examples

7 Use of active verbs

8 Use of abstraction and cliche

9 Ending

10 Storytelling and the use of drama and emotion.

List ways that the panel think that Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech works?

How and why do the panel say Abraham Lincoln's Gettysberg address works?

3

After listening

Listen to one of the following great speeches referred to in the broadcast: Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' (1963) or Abraham Lincoln 'Gettysburg Address' (1863).

What techniques discussed in the broadcast are used in this speech?

4

Next steps

Research the top ten speeches of all time. Get your friends or family to listen to a number of them. Vote and decide which you think are the top speeches. Compare and discuss your results with what the experts say.

Choose an idea or issue that you are passionate about. Use one of the 'top ten' speeches as a model for writing your speech. Or just use the techniques discussed.

Broadcast your speech in some way. Perhaps as a recording to friends or family. Perhaps through social media like Facebook. Check your audience response. How many 'likes' did you get and why do you think this was the case?

Transcript

For teachers

English: Year 10Strand: LiteracySubstrand: Interacting with othersContent code: ACELY1750Content description:Identify and explore the purposes and effects of different text structures and language features of spoken texts, and use this knowledge to create purposeful texts that inform, persuade and engage

English: Year 8Strand: LanguageSubstrand: Language for interactionContent code: ACELA1542Content description:Understand how rhetorical devices are used to persuade and how different layers of meaning are developed through the use of metaphor, irony and parody

English: Year 9Strand: LiteracySubstrand: Interacting with othersContent code: ACELY1740Content description:Listen to spoken texts constructed for different purposes, for example to entertain and to persuade, and analyse how language features of these texts position listeners to respond in particular ways